Darkoak

Without doubt, the most 'patheticnessy' thread of the day.

The mere mention of the place sends a shudder up my spine! Those like me who were at school during the 70's shall recall the mobile 'dentist' van visiting about every five years to check kids' teeth. Despite being nearly first on the alphabetical class register, I don't think I was ever summonsed to attend and as it wasn't 'cool' to look after your teeth back then, their condition deteriorated. By the age of sixteen or so, a huge absyss had developed on my gum, resulting in my Dad carting me off for an operation at The CC......(you see, I can't even bring myself to type the buildings' full name!!). For years afterwards, I had recurring nightmares of the seven-stone female trainee dentist slicing open my gum (non too delicately) with a razor-sharp scalpel, before plunging her green-rubber gloved hands into my mouth, climbing on the bed beside me in order to get greater leverage and then using her entire strength to squeeze her thumbs down on my gum, resulting in what seemed like bucketfuls of reddish-brown puss shooting out of my mouth. It must have been at that point - when my contorted body had complete it's third mid-air triple salko - that she realised that anaesthetics should be applied BEFORE the operation.... If that girl who "performed" the operation that morning back in 1979 qualified as a Dentist, then I'll show my a**e on Fargate.

IIRC, it was called The Fitzsooth and Firkin. Anyone know wtf a 'Fitzsooth' is ?

It was where The Black Swan (aka Mucky Duck) was - Snig Hill junction with Bank Street. It's now The Boardwalk music venue. From:- One 'top o' t'hiller to another!

So did I !!

It does exist, Paul. I think you're referring to Spoon Lane which is a narrow lane between the roads you have mentioned, that is not suitable for vehicles. Spoon Way is on the nearby 'Acorn' Estate. For the info of the OP, I have checked the 'QAS Electoral Roll' website and nobody by those names are listed.

Skippy, I'm pretty sure that Skelton's Fruit shop was taken over by a couple called Elsie & George, who still had the premises into the mid/late 60's. The road where the shop used to stand was widened slightly around this time to allow for the increase in traffic, with the building in your photo being knocked down to accomodate this. The land where your auntie & uncle had their shop is now largely on the border between the bottom end of The Peacock Car Park, the top side of gardens belonging to Manor House Old Folks Home and the pavement. The owners moved to where the village fruit shop is now (a couple of hundred yards down the road on the same side). The shop was known as 'Elsie's' for quite some years after that time. Was 'Middle Cottage' at the very top of Reynard Lane, where it meets High Riggs Road? It looks very similar to a building which still stands there. As for the cost (£105,000) - is this a recent photo?! When I'm on a more sociable shift, I'll speak to my Mum to see if she remembers your relatives you have mentioned.

Nigel, I can truthfully say that such quotas are not set nowadays.

A direct quote from the OP during his opening contribution at 8.21pm:- "There are some good Officers, but there are as many dodgy ones". And now a direct quote from the same person at 9.15pm:- "There are many honest Police Officers, but there are some dodgy ones". What's happened in the intervening 54 minutes Mikey10? Has somebody made such a telling contribution in the intervening period to have swayed your opinion? Or, as I suspect, were your opening lines (deliberately?) ill-thought out, largely devoid of evidence and sensationalist in nature, merely intended to 'generate comment' from others? And before you speculate, yes I am a Police Officer, with 19yrs service at the 'sharp end'. In that time, I have worked very closely alongside hundreds, if not thousands of Officers, both presently serving or since retired and I can honestly say that I can count the 'bent' ones on one hand. All of these have either been disciplined, required to resign, or in one instance, been given a prison sentance for their actions. I would love to stop and chat further, but I'm up before 6am to try and help provide a service that the good and honest people of Sheffield deserve. Evening all;)

How rude of you to speak whilst you are on the bus Nellie! (especially in a 'droning voice'!!) And as for the other 70-odd having the audacity to talk at the same time.....well, I never! Don't you know that the poor bus drivers demand total silence whilst they're driving? Shame on you woman!

By the sounds of it (and slightly off topic), I think there was 'something in the water' at The Tavern on Saturday. I went in at lunchtime to watch the football, when a decent-looking lad (in English rugby kit), came in with a charity box - collecting for a childrens cancer charity. After politely asking the barman if it was ok to collect in the pub, he proceeded to ask customers (again politely), if they would like to contribute any spare change. Just then, the landlord appeared and demanded that this lad leave - loudly proclaiming "he's gonna keep all the money for himself to get p****d up on tonight". "99% of collectors keep the money, it's a fact". Customer relations? Pah.

Skippy, further to the above (and to avoid any confusion - I hope!), the pub you mention as "just down the road from the monument" is 'Minnies' / Rose & Crown. The 'old' Hare & Hounds used to stand virtually opposite the War Memorial (monument).

Skippy, I've spoken to my Mum, who has lived in the village for over 60yrs and she believes the bus service you have referred to was set up in the 1930's (?) by a local entrepreneur called Mr.Thraile. The route ran from Malin Bridge (as you reckoned), up Stannington road passing The Sportsman PH (although this would have been the old building which was demolished to be replaced by the existing structure on virtually the same site in the 60's). The route then went up the steep section of the road (passed what is now the shops), passed The Peacock PH on your right, before swinging left at Knowle Top Chapel onto Uppergate Road, then turning right at the War Memorial towards The Riggs. On the left just after that junction used to stand the pub I think you refer to, namely the 'old' Hare and Hounds. The area it used to occupy is now the former car park of the (sadly) disused cricket pitch. My Mum thinks the 'old' pub was badly damaged by a fire in the 50's/60's (?), was declared unsafe and was re-built where the existing (now closed) pub is today. That stretch of road was/is locally known as 'Gray's Hill', after the long-standing landlord of the pub at the time. The bus carried on a short way passed here and terminated in the front car park of The Crown & Glove (aka 'Top House). So your'e right in saying that residents who lived higher up would have a steep walk to get home. Hope this helps.

Yes Skippy, Underbank Chapel is still there. I don't think it's changed it's appearance since it was built several hundred years ago!

Bit of a rumour I've heard is that the central midfielder mentioned is Graham Kavanagh. If it is, then our 'truffle-hunting' neighbours should be thanked for getting him match fit for us!

I'm afraid that her body was found on Riggs High Road a mile or so outside the village yesterday morning (her family are aware). For your info Pattricia, she was from the Wood Lane area.

Hitchin(g) a ride.

Winchester Cathedral

I understand that it's going to be cordened off for a few hours more to prevent any of tonight's revellers getting hurt from falling glass. Engineers are to attend later this evening to make it safe. Sleep well footiefreak!

Yawn......

Working nights (9pm x 7am) on both Xmas Eve and Xmas Day:( However, it's an improvement on last year, when I spent the entire festive season with:- Wife Daughter Mother Mother-In-Law Sister-In-Law Niece

I bet my dad's bigger than your dad.........

1. Really? Take it from someone in the know. 2. They're not allowed to because of Insurance/Health & Safety Regulation reasons. Of course, you could have helped your fellow frustrated motorists by making that call. Oh, sorrry, I forgot, you'd got your train to catch, hadn't you? 3. Make that 1,002.

1. I can assure that none were 'policing bus lanes' this morning. 2. 'Traffic cops' don't tow away broken down vehicles. The Police can arrange recovery wagons to do this, if someone had phoned to tell them about this matter (ie:- yourself per chance?) 3. I'm glad that I've missed your previous 999 posts.

It was the inauguration ceremony for the new 'Master Cutler'. It traditionally includes a procession from the Cutlers Hall across the road to the Cathedral.